Disconnect

Our April took us from a slower pace straight into a sprint. Not only is it FINALLY NOT SNOWING and we can play outside, we are trying to spend lots of time with friends who are leaving, joining into new ministries, figuring out travel plans for the summer, and preparing final papers and exams (of course the last is all Thomas, but I do supply some very important technical support like a full belly and clean pants). That along with many birthdays, baby showers, births (12 babies here or on their way!), meals for new moms, and trying to keep up with weekly phone calls to family makes me feel like I'm barely scratching the surface in most of my relationships. All of these activities bring us great joy, but they leave little time to be still.

I feel disconnected and out of touch with those I would claim as my closest friends/family.  Life is moving really fast and I can't seem to carve out time or space for those relationships to be fostered.  But honestly, the end of the semester is exhausting, and all my extra time and energies are focused on my relationship with Thomas and Eden, and I feel like there is little left.

When I sat down to write this entry, that was not at all what I intended to say. It kind of gushed out. This blog started as a way to update our close friends and family on our lives in Illinois. I suppose I want to apologize for being so checked out the last month when what I wanted so desperately to do was send  packages to you all full of Eden's drawings and little notes of how she reminds us of each of you or loves the toys you gave her at Christmas or boxes with sweet handmade baby items or new recipes we've loved trying.

Part of the disconnected feeling comes from a January-May span that has passed without any face to face contact with anyone I've known longer than 1.5 years. We are feeling a bit more grounded. We have close relationships here, we know people's back stories, we can ask favors, prayers, and cry on shoulders of many new friends. I just haven't figured out long distance relationships yet, after all, I'm still a newbie. Thankfully, there are trips to Texas on the horizon, and a very fun trip with a good friend to Portland. Yep! I get to take a girly vacation. I'm pretty ecstatic- you know- the jump up and down and scream like a little girl kind of excited.

So, can you forgive me for being scatterbrained during a period where you should all be doted upon? I'm sure you can. I won't kid myself too much and think I wasn't always a bit scatterbrained.

What I intended to write about is how blessed I am to be in a small group made up of Trinity wives that live in our town. There's roughly 9 of us. And 5 are pregnant. Well scratch that, 4 pregnant, 1 with a two week old.  After missing out on WAY too many opportunities to spoil friends and family with showers, I jumped at the chance to help out with this one and we threw it at our place.


There were 5 honored guests and a mix of genders, prompting a generic theme. Spring is HIGHLY celebrated here so fresh flowers and bright colors were in order.

Garlands were made from Moda's Urban Chicks Dream On line (so far my all time favorite). I found some fun vintage sheets on Etsy for tablecloths, and got some green and aqua striped straws from Shop Sweet Lulu.

We served Martha's Lavender Infused Lemonade (I think we ended up quadrupling the amount of water in the recipe).

After following Sweetapolita for a while (absolutely incredible), I was excited to finally try my hand at one of her cakes. This Triple-Lemon Blueberry Cake baked like a charm, although I couldn't get my icing as smooth as hers. It was delicious.

Appliqued Onesies made from second hand onesies and scrap fabric made for a quick, cute, and cheap craft.

It was fun to spoil some very deserving ladies!

The phrase sleeping like a baby....

...should really be sleeping like a toddler, at least for our little girl.

Here's just a little project we've been working on (if you click on the picture it gets a little bigger):

A few weeks ago I realized that I could take pictures in the dark using my iPhone and it made absolutely no sound. The silent function works on flash too :). And that led to another realization, short bursts of light do not in any way disturb our sleeping beauty. 

I LOVE that I will have these memories. Half of the nights Eden looks like a sweet baby and the other half she looks like a rowdy teenager (or at least what I imagine her to be, I know she's still little and I'm in no way ready for her to grow up!).

Because she is such a sound sleeper, I typically readjust her after I've taken the picture, set her on her pillow, cover her back up, remove bows we forgot about. Sometimes she's just so cute I have to sneak another picture.

Although she showed early signs of being a climber, she doesn't seem to think those habits can apply to her crib, and stays happily in it until we take her out. Thomas has finished building her toddler bed and Eden and I helped paint it. It's been in the basement for a month and she cries if we mention trading it for her crib. I know, I know, no rushing this one, I like my sleep thank you :).

There's been a lot to blog about, but little time, and fewer eloquent words (at least on my part). I've been reading some wonderfully encouraging mom books, attending a soul feeding bible study, pondering Mark in our church's Sunday School, and struggling, but making strides in daily study and prayer. Thomas has been doing mostly the same (except for  the mom books, but really, who has time for those when you're nose deep in the ancient mysteries of old testament history, culture, and language??). We long to share these growing pains with our family and oldest friends. I'm hoping to find ways even through my clumsy writing to share them in this forum, though I'm being a bit timid because words can so often be misunderstood and twisted online!

This verse keeps coming back to me:

2 Corinthians 12:9: 
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
I am a weak writer. I am a weak explainer of my faith. Words often fail me, and I do not like to put effort into things I do not excel in. But God can use me, and I need to let him, even in these things. God can show Himself even through my clumsy speech if I am willing to put my weaknesses out for others to see.  So...... be patient with me on this journey as I try to share what our focus and growth has really been in this temporary home (and no, it's not my sewing skills).

First off, I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone for leaving such sweet comments about my potholders. Who knew kitchen textiles could create such buzz? Although I was not a grand winner, I was a finalist! Unexpectedly they awarded the 8 finalists with some pretty fabric. I'll make sure to post my loot when it arrives.

Also, hello to everyone who is stopping by from Prudent Baby! They were nice enough to post some link love for the finalists and this little blog is getting lots of visitors. I have had several requests for a tutorial for the ruffled potholder and it's in the works. It is a simple change to the pretty pot holder tutorial posted by Prudent Baby so expect it soon!
Eden has been especially cute lately. Her little personality is blossoming, mostly because she can now verbally express herself really well. Every day she is learning to be a little bit more polite and patient (and so is her mom :) ). She's getting to an age where we can have little discussions about God and Jesus, and has started asking to pray for specific friends. It's all very sweet. We try to read one Old Testament and one New Testament story a day (thanks Dudley's for the Ergermeyer's Bible Story Book!). This book is on my wish list, I think it would be a great tool for children's devotionals.

Eden is also getting to the stage where she says the funniest things. I went to wake her up yesterday morning and she gasped "run away little piggy!!" before falling back into a deep sleep. While I was at bible study tonight, she told Thomas "I not see mama. I worry about mama." as he put her to bed. She didn't make it to the potty in time last week and stopped in the bathroom door, sighed, and said "Oooohh, Eden." She tells us that things "make her feel better" or "not make her feel better" (things like chocolate milk, pants, or hugs). I could write a book, and probably should.

Although you're not all here to hear her cuteness, here are a "few" pictures so you can see some of the cuteness. Little girls are so much fun to dress!

Favorite Boots:

 Leggings are a must for winter girly girls:

  Vintage clothing is lots of fun (the white circles all contain lower case cursive letters):

  She may love dresses, but I think there might be a jeans and t-shirt girl in there somewhere:

Serious attitude and the bag lady look:

Happy Valentines!

The tiding is a bit late, but I was too busy being romanced by my sweet hubby to post sooner.

I'm sort of indifferent about this particular holiday. The kitschy cards are fun and who doesn't like chocolate? But celebrating simply is usually my style. I made blueberry heart shaped pancakes and pink milk for my lovelies for breakfast and adorned each of there plates with some cute chocolate (toblerone for Thomas and a four piece assortment for Eden).

Thomas and I hadn't had a date in a while so we decided it was a good enough excuse to go out. We had dinner at a local Italian/French restaurant called Gabriel's. The interior was a bit cheesy, but the food was spectacular!



 
I took a little valentine's snack to playgroup the next day. Super easy- shape refrigerated breadstick dough into hearts, sprinkle with cinnamon, sugar, and sprinkles. The kids ate it up along with some strawberry applesauce.

 
And Thomas brought me flowers home after school :).

Our Weekend

Thomas left for a conference on Friday afternoon. It's customary for me to get a babysitter when he is out of town. It's actually not about getting a break during the 48 hours Eden and I are on our own. I have realized that the week following a Thomas trip feels a LOT longer, and I'm frazzled well before the next weekend comes. I need a break on the weekends to recharge.

Our babysitter was only available for Saturday afternoon, a time that was not conducive to taking a friend to dinner or a movie, so I decided I would use the time to do a bit of exploring. It might seem counter-intuitive to pay someone so I can go to a thrift store and get a deal, but it seemed silly NOT to go if that's what I really wanted to do with MY time. And really, Salvation Army is a lot more fun without a 2 year old.

I was after button down dress shirts for a skirt project. I snagged these for $1.99 each.

The plan is to turn them into a skirt similar to these found at Garnet Hill for $56.

I also grabbed four $0.99 t-shirts to use with this t-shirt to nightgown tutorial for Eden's summer PJs. Nightgowns are ridiculously expensive ($20-$26 at Carter's for their short sleeve summer gowns).

And how could I pass up a Janie and Jack sweater for $1.99?

Eden was in a great mood when I got home. She would barely let me put her down to pay the babysitter. I try to soak it up when she's cuddly because it's a rare occurrence. We spent a large chunk of the evening playing with a diaper box. I tied a piece of sting to the handle so I could pull her around. I suggested she take her princesses for a ride, thinking she would pull and I'd get a break, but she had other ideas.

And we played a lot with stacking pillows. Did anyone else do this as a kid? I remember LOVING to pile pillows into a big mound and fall on them or bury myself in them. Eden, as usual, just wanted to play naptime. That is all she does these days, plays at naptime. I can't remember the last time she slept during the day (we still do a long quiet time).

On my way home from the thrift store I stopped in Lake Bluff's shopping district. It's a small village just north of Lake Forrest (just north of us in Highwood) that I had yet to explore. The square was small, but had a few cute boutiques, a nice American bistro, a fantastic meat market, a soon to open microbrewery (the first in the North Shore), and a cute little bakery. I snatched these up to bring home as a treat for Eden.

Chocolate with Peppermint Frosting and Mixed Filled Berry. By far the best cupcakes I've had in the North Shore.

I finally got to use the cute cupcake stands my mom got me for Christmas. I have 6 in all and wish there were more little girls in Eden's neighborhood! So far it seems to just be her and Lilly in a sea of boys.








































In a twist of fate, a package arrived in the morning with a cute cupcake shirt from Eden's Grandaddy and CiCi- perfect for the occasion!
































Speaking of sweets. Have you guys ever had these? They are seriously good. I picked them up as potty treats for Eden (yes, we're working on it) and have been sneaking them all day.















I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

An explanation of my lack of communication...

... and dishwashing, and sleep.
 I promise to post SOON regarding something you all care a little bit more about: our schedule, Eden's health (good by the way), Thomas' semester, etc. But for now, you'll have to bare with me for another crafty post.

I stumbled upon Prudent Baby a few weeks ago, just in time to get in on their Sewing Machine Double Down contest. They are giving away two Brother sewing machines as part of a SKILLS BASED contest. I'm not much for lottery type contests, but tell me I'm going to get critiqued and I'm all over it. Nerd much? This is in fact the first sewing contest I have ever entered. It's been going on for a month and I've only known about it for a week, so I've been busy. While I don't have any hopes of winning (there are hundreds of entries) I had a ton of fun and gained some confidence in my abilities. For a couple days at least I can still dream about a sewing machine with automatic needle down, auto threading, satin stitching, and the option to lower feed dogs. Granny nerd much??
Honestly, I have a lot of friends who would like to learn to sew/quilt and it would be amazing to have an extra machine to teach on and loan out.

Entries are due by midnight. I don't know when the judging ends. You could submit as many as you wanted. They are judged with equal importance on these 4 criteria: Originality, Style, Workmanship, and Presentation. I have presentation down, but that's about it!! I'm happy that I did my best with the time I had. I also didn't allow myself to buy any materials (aside from cheap washcloths to tear up).

Here are my entries:

A Baby Book of Sorts

Nicole from Making It Lovely (a local Chicago blogger who has great style) has been chronicling the life of her first child for 4-6 weeks before her second child is born. I love the concept of attaching brief phrases with iconic pictures of her daughter's daily habits, and thought it might help me capture my own memories of Eden.

Here is where I admit the AWFUL truth that I have not really kept a baby book for Eden. I'm not a journaler in the traditional sense. I like taking pictures that help me visually remember what our life has been like- I'm a sucker for nostalgia. I'm not nearly as interested in when Eden first laughed, smiled or rolled over as I am in remembering the face she would make just before nursing or the funny way she said meeetins instead of mittens. I know I know, when/if she has kids of her own she'll probably ask about all the milestones and doctors notes and she can be mad at me then, but I will have thousands of pictures for her to compare to her future children.

If I keep up with this little project, it may become a blurb book, but in the meantime you can expect more cute little nibbles of Eden's daily quirks and routines.